Method of making wheels



' March 23, 1937. im..

AJrfFlAcgi-:ITW* M Y 2,074,453

n METHOD 0F MAKING WHEELS Filed June CSO, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet l am MM.

""4 ATTORNEYS.

March 23, V1937. T, BRACKETT 2,074,453

METHOD OF MAKING WHEELS Filed June 30, 1934 @Sheets-Sheet 2 Mlugwym.

A T TORNEY.

Patented Mu. 23, 1937 lPATENT OFFICE mi'rnon or mmc. WHEELS TracyF.Brackett, Detroit, Mich. Application June/3o, 1934, sonal No. 133.116

17 Claims. (C This invention relates to wheels and to a method of makingsame and has for its principal object the provision of a new andimproved wheel lof maximum strength "forthe weight e 5 thereof and theprovisionof a new and novel 4method of making the same from sheet orplate metal whereby a minimum amount of waste will result. p-

Objects of the invention include the` provision of a wheel formed fromsheet or plate metal and of gradually tapering thickness between thehub' portion and the rim portion thereof; the prof vision of a wh/eel ofdisc-like character in which the thickness of the metal graduallydiminishes from the hub portion thereof toward the periphery thereofand'is provided with a peripheral vflange of increased thickness forsecurement to v a rim; the provision of a wheel of disc-like characterhaving angularly'spaced cut-.out portions simulating spokes betweenthem, the material of the wheel around the margins of the cut-outportions being thickened to give added rigidity to the structure; andthe provision of a spoke wheel of disc-like character having certainnovel features of construction.` Other objects of the invention are theprovision of a method of making a wheel of disc-like character andprovided with angularly spaced openings to simulate a wheel having asmall 0 number of` spokes, including operating upon a sheet or plate ofmetal to provide aiblank, including a plurality of spaced spoke portionsinterconnected at one end, modifying the blank, and then bending theblank into wheel-like 35. form and welding co-acting edges of theblank'.

together to form a wheel; operating upon a sheet or plate of metal toshear it into a pair of bianks having common shear lines and eachincluding a plurality of spaced spoke portions 40 interconnected at oneend, .then operating upon each of said blanks to form each of them intoa wheel; the provision of a method for making awheel comprisingoperating upon a sheet or plate of metal to form a blank including aplurality of spaced spoke portions interconnected at one end, operatingupon said blank whereby to form portions thereof into substantially thedesired circular formation desired in the cornpleted wheel, and thenbending the blank into a complete circular formation to form said wheel:the provision of a method of making a wheel comprising operating upon ablank of sheet or plate metalV to provide a plurality of spacedspoke-like portions joined to one an- 55 other at one end; operatingupon the spoke-like.

portions to modify their marginal conformation, and then bending saidblank along the areas between said spoke portions and into wheel-likeformation;l the provision of a method of `making a wheel comprisingacting upon a sheet or plate 5 of metal' to form a blank including aplurality of spaced spoke portions connected togetherat one end only,the free endsl of said spoke portions being formed to substantially theshape desired in the nished wheel, acting upon the connected ends of thespoke portions tomodify their thickness and contour, bending the blankabout the portions thereof connecting said spoke portions to bring saidblank into wheel-like formation, and then welding abutting Iedges of`the blank together; and the provision of method of making a. wheelcomprising forming a blank from a sheet or plate of metal to provide aplurality of spaced spoke-like portions interconnected at one end only,flanging that edge of the blank along which the spoke-like portions areconnected s o as to bring the connected portions of the blank into aposition'approximately rperpendicular to the plane of the spoke-likeportions, and then bending the connected portions so as to bring saidspokes into radially disposed relation with respect to a common center.

Othe objects of the invention include the pro vision of a method ofmaking a wheel comprising acting upon a sheet or plate-of xnetal to forma blank including a plurality of spoke-like portions interconnected atone end only, operating uponthe blank to modify the thickness of themetal from the free ends of the spoke-like portions toward the connectedends thereof, anging the margin of the blank at the connected edgethereof, and then 'bending the blank along the areas thereofconnecting'the spoke-like portions to bring it into wheel-likeformation; the provision of a method of making a -wheel comprisingacting upon a sheet or plate of metal of uniform thickness to form ablank including a pluralityof spaced spoke-like portions interconnectedat one end only, acting upon said blank to vary the thickness of themetal from the un- 45 connected ends of the spoke-like portions towardsthe connected ends of such portions by flowing the metal toward suchconnected ends whereby toelongate such spoke-like portions, n thenbending said blank about those portions '50 thereof connecting saidspoke-like portions to bring the spoke-like portions into approximatelyradially disposed relation with respect to a common center, and thenwelding opposed edges of said blank together; the provision of a methodof making a wheel including operating upon a sheet or plate of metal ofuniform thickness to form a blank including a plurality of spacedspoke-like portions interconnected at one end only, acting upon saidblank to flow a :portion of the metal thereof lengthwise of thespoke-like portions to vary the thickness thereof, anging the margin ofsaid blank along which the spokelike portions are connected, and thenbending the blank about the portions thereof connected to saidspoke-like portions to bring the blank into Wheel-like formation, andthen welding the cooperating edges of said blank; and the provision of amethod of making a wheel including operating upon a sheet or plate ofmetal of substan-` tially uniform thickness to form a blank includblank,and then subjecting said blank to a form' ing operation.

Other objects of the invention include the prevision of a method ofmaking a wheel compris'- ing operating upon asheet or plate of metal ofsubstantially uniform thicknessto form a blank including a plurality ofgenerally spaced spokelike portions interconnected along one edge onlyof the blank, operating upon the blank to iow metal of the spoke-likeportions toward the connected ends of such portions whereby to taper thelongitudinal lsections of the spoke-like portions only and leavingthat'margin of the blank `along which said spokes are connected at athickness greater than that Vof' the adjacent ends of said spoke-likeportions, bending said margin out of the planel of the spoke-likeportions, bending the blank about those portions thereof connecting saidspoke-like portions to bring said spokelike portions into .approximatelyradially directed relation with respect to a common center, and tnenwelding abutting edges of said blank together. The above being among theobjects of the presentinvention, the same consists in certain novelfeatures of the construction, combinations of parts and steps or seriesof steps of operation to be hereinafter described with reference to theaccompanying drawings, and then claimed, having the above and otherobjects in view.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate suitable embodiments ofthe present invention and in which like numerals refer to like partsthroughout the several diierent views,

Fig. 1 is a face elevational View of a five-spoke metal wheel of taperedspoke section," showing the tire mounting rim secured in place thereon.

Fig. 2 is a. sectional view taken axially through the wheel shown inFig.1 as on the line 2-2fof Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a p1aii view of a sheet of metal indileating same severed intotwo blanks, either pf which may be employed in accordance with the?present invention to form a wheel of the acter illustrated in Figs. 1and 2.

Fig. 4 is a planview of one of the blanks-indicated in Fig. 3 after aninitial operation thereon chart to vary thethickness lthereof and toflow metal of the-y spokeA portions toward the outerY edges thereof toprovide an additional area 0f metal.

awaits Fig. 5 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 6 5 ofFig. 4. Fig. 6 is a more or less'diagrammatic, fragvmentary, sectionalview showing one arrangement of squeezing dies designed to flow themetal of the blanks indicated in Fig. 3 into the shape indicated in Fig.4 and at the same time taper the thickness of the blank as indicated inFig. 5.

Fig. 7- is a view similar to Fig. libut showing the blank as having thatmarginal portion thereof connecting the various spoke portions of theblank bent out of the plane of the spoke por` tions to form a flange andthe spoke portions of which have been partially shaped.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the line 8-8 of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 illustrates the. blank as formed in Fig. 7 as bent to bringopposed edges 'of the hub ends of they various spoke sections intocontact with each other, the ends of the blank into contact with eachother and abutting edges welded together. y

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary view similar to that shown in Fig. 9 Ibut,illustrating the same after it has been subjected to a final forming orshaping operation. Fig. 1l is a fragmentary, enlarged, sectional Viewtaken on the line iI-I I of Fig. 9 and illustrating' the type of weldemployed in such construction.

10 illustrating a construction in which the metal i about the spokeopenings has been thickenedto give added strength to the structure.

Fig. 15 is an enlarged, fragmentary, sectional view taken on the lineI5l5 of Fig. 14.

Fig. 16 is an enlarged radial section of onehalf of a completed wheel ofthe type previously shown and in which the periphery of the wheel isformed with a rim or flange portion of greater thickness than theradially inwardlyadjacen portionof the spokes,

Referring to Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a wheel is indicatedgenerally at 2U as having a tirereceiving rim member 22 secured to theperiphery thereof in accordance with conventional practice.

The wheel itself is shown as having a, hub portion being turnedoutwardly ,as at 30 in a generally radial direction in the same conicsurface as the spokes 32. The spokes 32 are joined at theirouter ends byan angular-shaped annular portion or felloe 33, the peripheral portionof which serves as a seat for receiving the tire rim 22 which isriveted, welded or otherwise suitably secured thereto.V The presentinvention relates particularly to the wheel 20 as the rim 22 may be ,ofany conventional construction and applied thereto .in anyconventionalmanner. It may be annata wheel is constructed in accordancewith thepres-v ent invention and designed for single mounting only, theaxial relation of the hub and rim may be varied as desired from thatindicated.

1 5 Articles of this' same general `form have heretofore been madebut,as far as I am aware, in the past the wheel body has been made up as adisc wheel and in the samemanner inI which disc wheels are formed, thatis .from a square or octagonal plate, and then openings such as 34 havebeen punched or otherwise formed in them in order to effect the spokeportions 32. In the conf ventional method of iirstforming these wheelsasa disc wheel and then punching of the openings 34V it will be apparentthat a considerable loss of metal results in the manufacturing operationwhich results in a corresponding increase in cost of the manufacture ofthe wheel. In ac,- cordance with the present invention I am able to.form such wheel from sheet or plate metal and by simultaneously formingtwo blanks, one inter- 'locked with respect to the other as laid out onthe sheet of metal from which the vblanks are formed I am enabled toform such a wheel with substantially no loss of metal in itsmanufacture.

As illustrated in Fig. 3, each wheel blank in its initial form consistsof a strip of metal indicated generally at 36 having a straight side 33and fro'm the opposite side of which projects a plurality of ispaced'laterally projecting portions 39 which go to make up the spokes32 and segments of the hub portion 23 in the'nished product, vand thestrip `36 eventually forms the rim 33 in the finished .i

product. Each blank is provided with the same number of spokes as willappear in the i'lnished wheel, in the particular instance illustrated5,\.it being particularly understood that the present invention has" forits object the provision of a method of forming wheels having arelatively small number of spokes, preferably rive or six. As will benoted from an inspection of Fig.`3 the blanks are identical to eachother andtthey are so proportioned and arranged that two of them may beinterfltted and combined to form a solid sheet of equal width.- theedges 3B in such case correspondingwith the opposite edges `ofthe sheet.This permits such blank to be stamped out of a sheet or plate. of metalof the required width without leaving any scrap whatsoever.

This general method of forming wheel blanks is in itself generally notnew `as it has previously' been suggested to punch out a pair of wheelblanks.

from'a strip of metal and in which the blanks have more or lessinterlocking outlines but'these 65 previous designs have particularlyapplied to wheels of a type having many, small, or narrow spokes, withsmall'hubs and4 relative large rim diameters, no attempt having beenlmade to taper the thickness of the spoke section or create a disc-like`appearance of the wheel when nished. Moreover, in these previous designsthe strip por-V Y tion of the blank which will eventually form theperiphery of the wheel and which connects the spoke portions togetherhas rst been bent into 75 a ring and its ends secured together. and thenthe spoke portions bent into generally radial conformation to effect thewheel. In such former designs'if the outside diameter of the wheel was ireduced and the hub area enlarged in keeping with present day practiceand at the same time the number of spokes reduced to ve or six, it wouldbe impossible by the methods there suggested to get a smooth or perfect'wheel due to the fact that the developed shape of a perfectly roundwheel 'projected on a at plane is thatk shown in Fig. 4 of the drawingsof the present app1ication. In other-"words, if a blank as shown in Fig.3 were simply bent into a ring about a line parallel to the planethereof until `the two opposite ends abutted and such ends were securedtogether and it was then attempted to bend the spoke portions 39 intoradial relation, it will be apparent that bending of the spoke portionswould tend to atten the ring over the extent of connection of the spokeportions with the strip portionSB and thus distort the ring, or elsetear the metal at the points where the spoke portions join the strip 36,or if done hot the edge 38 will draw up into arcs and not be straight.The method provided in accordance with the present invention isparticularly designed to eliminate such deformation and/or tearing ofthe metal in the formation of wheels from blanks of the type described.and shown.

Referring now to Fig. 3 which shows the blanks as initially formed fromwhich wheels are made in accordance with the present invention, it willbe understood that the. edges 38 will form in the ilnishedwheel the freeedges of the rim portions 33 and that the metal in the edge zone 36extending along the edges 33 as far inward as the arc I0, 42 will be therim 33 when formed into ya wheel and the projections 39 will be thespokes 32 in the nal wheel previously described and segments of thehubportions 24, 28 and 3U previously described. The shear lines 44common to both blanks at one end form a margin of the segment of the,hub 23 on one side and on the opposite side a margin of an opening 34 inthe nished wheel and the same is true at the opposite end "of each lineM. The development of this shear line M so that the line M will be aslong as possible and so that the distances designated at 46 will be aswide as possible. constitutes an ini-'- portant part of the invention.

. In order to more clearly describe the invention and illustrate themethod of predetermining the blank shown in Fig. 3 and the subsequentoperation thereon in forming a Wheel, the method followed in designingalive-spoke wheel to be used in connection with a conventional""20 inchby '5-inch. pneumatic tire will now be describedin detail. -In such acase the lengths of the blanks shown in Fig. 3 are determined by theinside'circumference of the wheel rim 22, which is xed for theparticular size of tire mentfoned, namely, 62 inches, that is, thecircumference ora 19% inch circle plus welding allowance.' This lengthmay be increased if desired but .resort must then be had to shrinkingthe .ilange (Fig. 2) so that itwill assemblewith the rim 22, or thelengthmay be shorter, in which case the flange 33 will have to bestretched ,in

order to properly assemble with the rim 22. Taklng the length of theblank as-62 inches, it -is evident that the blank will have five equalareas allotted to live spoke areas with spaces between the spokes., Thematerial' in the strip between the edges 38 is allocated to each blank,as shown in Fig. 3, so that the spaces between the spoke portions 39contain enough material to make the spokes of' the opposing blank, butwithout Waste. The reason for utilizing all of the metal is to make thedistances 46 as large as possible because such distances represent thewidth of the spokes 32 in the final product and in `62 inches of lengththe amount of width available is barely enough, and no 'metal can' bewasted. The shear lines between the blanks separate the spoke portionsof the blanks and have therefore to follow an arbitrary prole bestdescribed as interlocking.

1 tween them. It is evident that the edges. M

cany have only a certain length and no more can be obtained withoutlengthening the blank which, of course, is undesirable from thestandpoint of c'ost .of production. For reasons of strengthl it-isnecessary that the spokes 32 be as wide as possible and the line S6represents this blank dimension at the points where the spokes and `hubportions join. A consideration of the layout shows that the only way toincrease'this dimension 46 is to increase the whole length of the blankand only a slight .amount can be gained in'this way for each spokewidth,

Considering, the thickness of the blank as of an inchwhich is aconventional thickness for the hub portion of such wheels, it will beapparent that with the length determined the width ofthe blank cannotexceed a predetermined gure if the total waste is to be kept down toapoint. that will result in a commercially.

' economical product.

Referring to Fig. 3, it willbe understood that the radius R'. struckfrom the center C, which correspon s to the .true center of the wheel,estabiishes be within an arc struck by rthe .free end of the' radius R.or else no material will be available to formthe felloe 33 in then'ished wheel, `and conforming to this condition for most blanks` means,in view of .their interlocking layut, that the edges 62 must,coi`ncidewith' the hub inner edgesAl). Conformingto the weight conditions andtothe dimensional conditions as outlined,` means that the edges. 38 arin' the specific example being considered, but eight inches. apart,making the .total weight of the foundation plate material approximately44 pounds or 22 pounds for each'blank. 'I'he size of the center hole 25in the finished wheel, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, also determinesthe position of the coinciding edges 411-42 so that it is evident thatto use all. of the raw plate material and to get the maximum width forthe spokes 32 and. dimension 4'6 adeflnite method must be followed thatwill be practically the same for any wheels made by the method hereindisclosed. J

The purpose of theforegoing description of the method followed inlayingollt the blank isto bring out the difference between previouslysuggested 'methods of simply vpunching out blanks with. interspacedprojections to form e conditionthat'the edge 42 must A- o advance spokesand that of determining the outlines of the projections by consideringthe limitations of Weight and thickness of hub metal, length of blank,etc. for wheels with particularly six spokes or less as above described.

. When the centers C corresponding to the true center of the wheel arelocated and the radii R are laid out, it is found that the distance fromthecenter C to the line or edge 42 is practically correct but thedistance from the center C to edge 38 measured on the centerline of thespoke portion is far short of the true distance measured over the convexside of the wheel' as shown in Fig. 2, although the distance from edge38 to the line d is very nearly correct. The reason for all Y.theseapparent discrepancies is that a developed plan view of a spoke discwheel would appear as indicated in Fig. 4 and, accordingly,

the next step of operation is to subject the metal of the sheared outvblank to pressure at proper points to cause the blank to increase inwidth particularly along the centerlines of the spoke portions. It is,of course, apparent that-if the blank is thus widened the metal willdecrease in thickness and that, if the dies which are employed forwidening the blank are properly shaped, spoke sections will result thatwill taper in' thickness from those portionvsvof the blank which willform the hub areas toward those/portions of the blank which will formthe rim 33. inasmuch as there is a definite limit set upon lthe totalweight of the nished wheel, an arbitrary set figureput upon thethickness of the hub. and the length is fixed by the vinsidelcircumference of the rim to be received upon the wheel, the width of thepunched blank must be narrovirenough so that. the weight gure fallswlthinfa small percentage of the finished wheel o weight. This widthdetermined in that manner the foregoing it isseen that if the desiredpu'rposes fare to be accomplished, i. e., save Weight andl taper thespoke sectionsfno material can be lost along the shearline else therewill not bee'nough left to m'ake the wheel and attain strength enough tobe of practical value.

Referring to Fig. 4, it will be noted that it represents one of theblanks 'shown in Fig.- 3 after it has been operated upon to taper thelongitudinal section of the spoke portion 39 and to provide suiiicientmtal in the outer edge portions thereof to compensate for the deficiencyin metal along the longitudinal centerline of the portion 39 aspreviously pointedgas existing inthe blank as indicated in Fig. 3. Inother words, the blanks illustratedin Fig. 3 are Yeach operated upon to-bring them intel the condition illustrated in Figs.

4 and 5 wherein the longitudinal lsection of the spoke portion 39 istapered as indicated in Fig. 5,

the metal in the outer portions of the spoke portions 39 and strips 36as illustrated in Fig. 3-

being owed toward the outer edgeof the blank l.

so as to eiect an increase in the width of the blank centrally of theportions 39and so that the outer edge of the blank 38 as viewed in Fig.3

.is caused to assume a more or less scolloped effect as indicated 'inFig. 4 wherein the radius R' struck from the center of the Wheelrepresents substantially the developed length of the wheel indicated inFigs. 1 and 2 from the axis of the wheel Ato the outer edge of the rimportion 33.

One form of apparatus' for modifying a blank such as indicatedl in Fig.3 to bring it to the shape and section indicated in Figs. 4 and `5 isillustrated in Fig. G-from which it will be noted that a suitablesupporting frame is illustrated at 50 and as pivotally supporting a pairof opposed die members 52 for oscillatory movement about axes 54. Meansincluding a cross head 56 connected to each ofthe dies 52 by means oflinks58, and

a shaft 60 adaptedto connect the crossk head 56 with a suitable sourceof power is provided for lsimultaneouslyv oscillating `the dies 52'.Thel opposedfaces of the dies' 52 are eccentric to their oscillatoryaxes 54 and are so arranged that when a blank such as illustrated inFig. 3 is placed between them and thedies osclllated as indicated in Adotted line, the metal of the spoke portion 39 Aand edge strip portions36, from the hub line 48 outwardly is squeezed and caused to flow out-A'wardly so as not.. onlyto cause the thickness of the blank to beprogressively reduced toward the outer edge but also to ilow the metalof the blank outwardlyand thus bring its shape to substantially thatindicated in Fig. 4. As will be obvious to thoseskilled in the art, adie structure of the type shown anddescribed, or other die structuresprovided for eilecting the same result, may be' modified so that theouter edge of the blank shown (in Fig. 4 may be allowed to remain at itsoriginal v or slightly reduced thickness so as to form a rela-l tivelythick rim such -as that indicated at 33' .ln-

Fig. 16. On the other hand, the dies may also be modiied so as toprovide 'thickened portions -along thelmargins o'f the spokes asindicated at 62 in Figs. 14 and `15 and which thickened portion wouldbound the openings 34 in the wheel and thus act to impart added rigidityto the wheel. Variations of the die structures to produce such effect asWell as an article so elected is within the scope of thepresentinvention.

After the blank has attained the form indicated in Figs. 4.and 5 yit isthen acted upon towbend the outerl edge portion thereof connecting thevarious spoke portions 39, in the manner indicated in Fig. 8, that is,the outer edge of each spoke portion 39 which eventually will form aportion of the rim 33 in the nished wheel is curved so as to bring itsouter-edge into substantially perpendicular relationship with respect tothe plane of the blank. It will be noted from an inspection of Fig. 8that that portion of the l edge strip joining the spoke portions 39between 50 the spoke portions 39 is bent almost wholly intoperpendicular relationship with respect to the` plane of the blank anddoes not conform to the curved outer edge of the blank as viewed in thelongitudinal section through one of the spoke portions 39. Itwill alsobe noted, as indicated in Fig. 8, that during this fianging operation.the spoke portions are preferably given an initial bend toward thershape they are to assume inthe finished product. It is particularlyimportant to note that the ange formed atthe outer end lof the spokeportions 39 over the width of such spoke portions is shaped to the samecurvature and to substantially the same size as these portions willassume inthe finished product as viewed n,

65 Figs. 1 and 2, the reason for this being that rin bending the blankas illustrated in Figs. 7 and 8 to a circular or wheel formationsubstantially no bending of the outer end of the spoke portions 39 willbe -required and thiseiectively eliminatesany stretching, buckling ortearing of the metal adjacent the line of juncture of the spoke portionsand the rim portions as would occur in previously suggestedconstructions employing spokes approaching the width f the spokes hereinern- 75 ployed.

4'Ill in Fig. 9.

' 'Ihe next step of operation is to take the blank illustrated in Figs.7 and 8 and bend it tothe 1 shape indicated in Fig. 9 and inso bringingthe action upon such connecting pieces of metal occurs. The blankillustrated in Figs. '7 and 8 is bent over the area. of the portionsconnecting the spoke portions 39 until the edges of the hub ends of thespoke portions 39 contact with the opposed edges of the adjacenty spokeportions and until the extremities of theouter edges of the anks arebrought together as on the line Preferably, the side edges of the hubends of the spoke portions39 in the blank illustrated 'in Fig. '7 aresca'rfed as at 12and when the blank is bent into wheel shape asillustrated in Fig. 9 'and the opposed scarf edges are brought intocontacting orfsubstantially contacting relation they are welded togetheras illustrated at 14 and best shown in Fig. 11.

Instead of scariingI the edges of the hub ends of the spoke portions 39as at 12, a different method may be employed for welding the. edgestogether in the manner illustrated in Figs. 12 and 13. As illustrated insaid gures, instead of scarflng the edges 'as at 12, such edges are bent`to an angle of substantially 45 degrees with respect to the plane ofthe spoke portions as at 16 -in Fig. 12 and so that when the blank isbent into wheel shape such edges will abut each other as indicated inFig. 12. Such abutting edges are then placed between suitable electrodes18, preferably grooved as at 89 longitudinally of the line of contactbetween the edges and then a suitable electric current is caused to iiowbetween ther electrodes 18 and through the spoke portions Y in Fig. 13.This method of welding edges of sheet metal or other parts together.constitutes a part of the present linvention but is obviouslyapplicable lto uses other than in the manufacture of wheels.

It willbe noted that in the wheel as thus far finished and asillustrated in Fig. 9 the portions of the rim or strip joining the spokeportions and their outer edges-is still, `in the main, in perpendicularrelationship with respectV to the general plane of the wheel and`onlythe end portions of such connecting portions are bent int'o theplane ot the wheel disc. Also, that the offset relation f of the hubportion with respect' to the rim as desired in the nal productillustrated in Figs. 1 and 21s not vyet attained. Theidiameter of thewheel as illustrated in Fig 9 in the stage of comends of the spokeportions, and giving the wheel `the proper diametrical size, and contouras viewed in a longitudinal section to the spokes. This op- 4pletibn asshown may also vary either one way or` eration may be performed inaccordance with any conventional practice and by conventional apparatus,and brings wheels to the form shown in Fig. 10. The holes' 82 `forreception ofthe usual hub studs (not shown) may now be drilled,

the excess material alon'g the line of weld removed, vthe inner andouter peripheries of the wheel trimmed "and other finishing operationsperformed. At the same time, if the openings 10 in the disc are not ofthe shape desired in the nished product the openings 34 may be enlargedand/or modied in shape or size, for instance, as indicated-in dottedlines at 86 in Fig. 1.

From the above it will be apparent that by the method herein disclosedit is possible to construct a disc type of wheel having a small numberof spokes and in which the spokesections are tapered longitudinally toproduce a wheel of maximum strength in proportion to its weight Awithsubstantially no waste of material from the blank from which it isproduced. It may be noted that the raw material for a wheel produced asabove described capable of carrying the same load'as the same size ofwheel produced in accordance with former practices weighs, in theparticular size noted, substantially ten pounds less than thoseconstructed in' thev conventional mann'er and, accordingly, these wheelsare not only more economical to produce from the standpoint of weight ofthe wheel but additionally may be produced without the excessive amountof scrap necessitated in accordance with prior methods of producing thesame types of wheels.

vIt will, of course, be understood that but o'ne particular arrangementof parts has been shown and described'as illustrative of the broadinvention and that various modifications and changes will be apparent tothose skilled in the art once the present invention is disclosed to themand, 40 accordingly, formal changes may bemade in the specic embodimentof the invention described without departing from the spirit orsubstance of the broad invention, the scope of Whichis commensurate withthe appended claims.

I claim; y\-` Y 1. In the manufacture of wheels, the step of forming ablank for a wheel comprising operating upona plate of metal and therebyforming a plurality ,of spoke4 portions interconnected at one end, andthen operating upon said blank by owing a portion of the metal in saidspoke portions lengthwise of such portions.

2. In the manufacture of Wheels, the step of forming a blank for a Wheelcomprising operating upon aplat'e of metal and thereby forming aplurality o'f spoke portions interconnected vat one Y Y end, and thenoperating upon said blank'by iiowinga portion of the metal in said spokeportions lengthwise of such portions and thereby varying the thicknessthereof.

3. In the manufacture of wheels, the step of forming a blank forfa wheelcomprising operatling upon a plate of metal and thereby formingaplurality of spoke portions interconnected at one end, and thenoperating upon said blank by oW- ing a portion of the metal in saidspokeportions longitudinally of such portions, and thereby tapering thethickness of such portions between the ends thereof. 76 4. In themanufacture of`-wheels, the step of forming a blank for a wheelcomprising operating upon a plate of metal and thereby forming aplurality of spoke portions interconnected at one end, operating uponsaid blank and thereby ta- 75 pering the section of said spoke sectionsbetween `of said spoke portions together ing said side edges relative toone another.

11. In the manufacture of wheels, the steps of forming a blank for awheel comprising operating upon a plate of metal and thereby forming anelongated blank comprising a plurality of spoke portions interconnectedat one end, then operating upon said blank and thereby forming the outerends of said spoke portions to substantially the same curvature as theywill assume in the finished wheel while said blank is in an elongatedcondition, and then forming said blank into circular form.

7. In the manufacture of wheels, the step of forming a blank for a wheelcomprising operating upon a plate of metal and thereby forming aplurality of spoke -portions interconnected at one end, then operatingupon said blank and thereby increasing the width thereof and varying thethickness thereof, and then operating upon said blank and therebyforming the outer ends of said spoke portions to substantially the samecurvature as they will assume in the finished Wheel..

8. In the manufacture of wheels, the steps of forming a vblank for awheel comprising operating upon a plate of metal and thereby forming aplurality of spaced spoke portions interconnected c at one end,operating upon said blank and thereby increasing the effective length ofsaid spoke portions, and then forming the connected ends `the connectedends of said spoke portions to substantially the same size and shape asthey will assume in the finished wheel.

10. .In the manufacture of wheels, the steps of forming a planular blankcomprising a plurality of spaced spoke portions each connected to itsIneighbor at one end by a connecting portion,

operating upon said blank and thereby iianging the connected endportions of said spoke portions in' accordance with the curvature ofsaid end portions -ln the nished wheel and thereby positioning saidconnecting portions in substantiauy perpendicular relationship withrespect to the plane of said blank, then bending said bl'ank at saidconnecting portions only and thereby bringing the side edges of theunconnectededs and then se'curforming a planular blank and therebyproviding a plurality of spaced spoke portions and portions connectingsaid spoke portions at one end thereof; operating upon said blank' andthereby increasing the length of said spoke portions and varying thethickness thereof, anging the consteps of punching out blanksapproximately equal in length to the inside' circumference of a rim, tobe received on said wheel, to thereby provide blanks having ve similarprojections containing nected ends of said spokes and bringing saidconnecting portions into approximately perpendicularv relation withrespect to the plane' of said spoke portions, bending said blank overthe lengths of said connecting portions only so as to bring the freeends of said spoke portions into contacting relation, and thenpermanently securing said free ends together. 4

12. In the manufacture of vehicle wheels having tapered thickness spokesof minimum section thickness in the area adjoining a rim flange, thesteps of making these wheels including punching out a pair of blanksfrom a metal plate,`said blanks having areas, to be formed into spokes,in the form of projections attached at one end to a band of metal to beformed into a flange for `attaching a rim, the projections of one of apair of blanksl interlocking with the secondeof the pair of blanks sothata common shear line serves as a means of separation between saidblanksin said plate, subjecting the constituent metal of each blank topressure working causing the width of the blank to increase and thesection thickness of the spoke projections to assume a tapered form,turning a rim flange on the ends ofthe spoke Aprojections opposite thehub end,

ing the metal of the spoke swinging the spoke projections so that thehub areas approach and finally abut, and permanently joining the.abutting .edgesof the hub areas to form one hub area in the finishedwheel.

13. In the manufacture of vehicle wheels of metal having six or vlessspokes of tapered thickness, the method of making said wheels includingthe steps of operating upon a plate of metal a and thereby forming apair of blanks each having a plurality'of connected projectionscorresponding to the number of spokes required in the wheel, the shearededge outline of said projections in one of said pair of blanks formingthe sheared edge outline of the projections in the other of said pair ofblanks, subjecting the constituent lmetal of each blank to pressureworkingrand thereby causingthe width of the blankto increase and thethickness to decrease in the form of a tapered section having minimumthickness in the areas in which the greatest increase in width takesplace, turning a rim ange on the rim endof the spoke projections andcurvproper into a shape coinciding with the shape requiredas a finishedspoke in the finished wheel, swinging the spoke projections in a commonconic surface rso that the hub areas of the spoke projections approachone another and finally abut, permanently joining the abutting hub areasalong the abutting edges of the hub areas into one hub area, and

finally pressing the resulting product into the finished wheel form.

leo

. 14. In the manufacture of vehicle wheels of metal having ve taperedthicknessv spokes, the method of making'said wheels including the metalfor the spokes and hub of the finished wheel, said projections beingconnected at one the coinciding projections of the second of a pair ofblanks with the outlines of the projections of both blanks a commonshear line serving to separate the blanks, subjecting the constituentmetal of each blank to pressure working and thereby forcing the Width ofthe blank to increase and reducing the thickness of the spokeprojections thereby forming progressively thinning thickness sections ineach spoke projection from the free end thereof toward the opposite end,forming curved flanges on ends of said spoke projections to formsapproximating that of the coinciding portions of the completed rimflange for said wheel, curving the metal connecting said spokeprojections to one another thereby causing said connecting metal andthat of said curved flanges edges of said free end portions to therebyform one wheel hub area, and pressing the partially fabricated wheelstructure into the desired final wheel form.

15. In the manufacture of wheels, the method including the step offorming a blank for a wheel comprising operating upon a plate of metaland thereby forming a plurality of spoke portions in terconnected at oneend and then operating upon said blankrby flowing a portion of the metalin said spoke portions lengthwise of said portions and thereby providinga blank structure of varying thickness in various portions thereof.

16. In the manufacture of wheels, the step of forming a blank for awheel comprising operating upon a plate of metal and thereby forming aplurality of spoke portions interconnected at one end and then operatingupon said blankby flowing a portion of the metal in said spoke portionsonly thereof lengthwise thereof and thereby providing a wheel blankhaving a rim portion of thickened cross section as compared to saidspoke portions.

17. In the manufacture. of wheels, the step of forming a blank for awheel comprising operating upon a plate 'of metal and thereby forming aplurality of spoke portions interconnected at one end and then operatingupon said blank by flowing a portion of the metal in said spoke portionsand thereby providing spoke portions of increased thickness at themarginal edges thereof.

TRACY F. BRACKETT.

